Heat honors Wade, retires his jersey

MIAMI—Dwyane Wade went through a long list of thank-yous as he delivered a 20-minute speech at his jersey retirement ceremony Saturday night, Feb. 22, 2020, mentioning everyone from his business manager and the Miami Heat ball boys to Pat Riley.

“I could have gone on for an hour,” Wade said following the ceremony at halftime of the Heat’s 124105 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. “This is about me for sure, but this is about all of us at the same time — the city of Miami, teammates over the years, everyone who has sacrificed, rooted and cried. We all did this together. I didn’t do this by myself.”

Wade’s wife helped to hoist his No. 3 jersey to the rafters, where it joined the retired jerseys of four other Heat players — Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Bosh.

The ceremony was the centerpiece in a threeday celebration of Wade’s 16-year NBA career, which included three championship seasons with the Heat. Wade, who now lives in Los Angeles, returned to the arena for the first time since his final home game in April 2019.

“The man is hanging from the ceiling in a way he’ll never be forgotten,” Riley told the crowd.

Wade reminisced about the impression he made helping Marquette beat Kentucky, Riley’s alma mater, in the NCAA tournament. Months later, Riley and the Heat took Wade with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 draft, and spectators at the Miami arena that night roared their approval at the choice. /